Cae coupling



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. K 0. M. RHODES. g

UAR COUPLING.

No. 262,315. Patented Aug. 8, 1882.

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(N0 Mode l.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 O. M. RHODES.

GAR COUPLING. No. 262,315. Patented Aug. 8, 1882 (No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 3. 0. M. RHODES. GAR COUPLING.

110.262.316. Patented Aug. 8, 1882.

(3886' fave/1 60% UNITED STATES CHARLES M. RHODES, OF LYNN,MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,315, dated August8, 1882.

Application filed April 5,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. RHODES, of Lynn, in the county of Essexand Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Onr- Couplings, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings, and has forits object to provide means whereby two or more cars may be shackled orunshackled without the necessity of going in between the same.

My invention consists in combining with the draw-head a suitable detentto be acted upon by the shackle on the opposite draw-head in a manner toautomatically disconnect the two, and also in combining with thedraw-head a buffer capable of being set in reference to a similar bufferon the opposite draw-head, so as to either permit or prevent (asoccasion may require) the detent from being called into action.

It also relates to improvements in the operative mechanism, all of whichare hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of two draw-bars locked together and myimproved detents applied thereto. Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. l with thedraw-bars in the act of disconnecting. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of aportion of a car with my improved coupling applied thereto. Fig. 4. is aperspective view of a portion of the end of a car with my improvedcoupling applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the whole endof a car with my improved coupling applied thereto, aud a section of aninterlocking draw-bar. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form ofcoupling with my improved detents applied thereto. Fig. 7 is the same asFig. 6 with the shackle in the act of disconnecting. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of Fig. 6.

The draw-bars A have inclined end faces, 0, and hooks f, provided withrecesses h. The draw-bars are secured to the bottom of the car B bymeans of pin a, and permit a sufficient amount of lateral play to allowthe inclined faces a to slip past each other, when forced intocollision, to engage the hooksf. Asprin g, C, at the rear of eachdraw-bar A, bears one end against the draw-bar, so as to keep the hooksin engagement when once connected. The draw-bars A are each providedwith suitable slots or grooves for the reception of the detents 2, whichare arranged to turn thereon on their respective journal-pins 3, and areeach provided with inclined faces 41c and 5.

When now it is desired to unshackle the cars they are first driventogether to allow the inclines e and 4 to slide past each other till thehooks f drop over the ends of the detents 2, whereupon aforward movementof the cars rolls outward the detents, which should be ofsufficientlength to allow the hooks f to escape each other, as shown inFig. 2.

Attached to the end of the car, above the draw-bar A, is a block, D,that supports asec- 0nd block, E, which block E is provided with aprojecting arm, n, to which a block, F, is hinged or pivoted with itsrear end huttin g against the block 1). The block E is connected withits supporting-block D in amanner to permit of lateral movement thereon,which movement may be efi'ected by the operator from the top of the carby means of the lever 7, or while standing on the ground at either sideof the car by means of the lever 88.

In operating this my improved coupling it may be desired in many casesto allow the cars to come together without shackling. In such case theoperator positions the block E so that the block F will register withthe corresponding block F on the opposing car, in which case theinclines c a will not slide by each other far enough to allow thehooksfto interlock. When it is desired to shackle the cars the operatorpositions the block E so that when the cars are driven together theblocks F will slide past each other, thereby allowing the inclines e eto slide past each other sufficiently to permit the hooks f tointerlock, whereupon the blocks F strike upon the opposing blocks D andprevent the hooks ffrom passing back over the end of the detent 2. Inthis position the cars are shackled and the blocks F act as fenders tothe cars, and'bein g hinged are prevented from getting cramped as thecars surge together in check- 1 ing the speed of the train. When it isdesired to unshackle the cars the operator should move the block E toone side sufficiently to allow the block F to clear the block D entirelyand pass in against the end of the ear proper, in which case, if thecars are driv'n together, the hooks f will pass over the end of thedetents 2, whereupon a forward movement of the cars will roll out thedetents, as before described, to disengage the hooks I and allow thecars to separate.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings show a modified form of my improvedcouplings in which draw-bars shaped as above described are rigidlysecured to the bottom of the ear and a. shackling-link of the ordinaryconstruction is employed for coupling the cars together. This form ofthe coupling may be considered preferable in many cases, as it conformsmore closely to the usual devices for coupling cars. The operation ofthis is sufficiently obvious from the description of the other alreadygiven.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Thedetent 2, combined with the coupling-hook f and draw-bar A, and adaptedto engage with the coupling hook or link of an adjoining car anddisengage it from the hook f, substantially as described.

2. The movable fender-block F, combined with the draw-bar A, having thecouplinghookf, and the detent 2, adapted to engage with the couplinghook or link of an adjoining car and disengage it from the hook f,substantially as described.

3. The movable fender-block F, combined with the actuating-levers 7 and8 8, either or all of them, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo witnesses.

C EIAS. M. RHODES.

Witnesses:

FRANK PEASE, (J. B. TUTILE.

